Copyright infringement? That is according to the AP

According to the Associated Press, this drawing made by a man in California is a breach to its copyright.

What is truly correct is that copyright as an intellectual property must be protected and its creators duly compensated in order to stimulate new and progressive creations. 

Now, not all copyright infringements require legal redress. Its when the supposed creator bluntly obtains unlawful economic or moral gains, when the law or courts protects the original creators.

The fellow who made the drawing, Shepard Fairey, made thousands of dollars, and even personally signed some posters and sold them on Ebay. Mr Fairey recently has recognized that he used the AP photograph as a base to make the drawing.  Professor Anthony Falzone, a lecturer from Stanford Law School and leader of the Fair Use Project, argues that this is a clear example for Fair Use.  Other people argue that Mr Faireys intention was civic, social and political in nature, thus falling in the category of fair use.

I lean in favor of copyright infringement...you be the jugdge!

Forced Holidays?

This past Monday, February 2nd, 2009, Venezuelans woke up to a rather strange ambiance in the air. Our infamous President Chavez had ordered on Saturday,that Monday February 2nd, 2009 will be a national holiday, because of the 10 year anniversary of the Bolivarian revolution.

Its been a hell of a rollercoaster this past 10 years. Perhaps what is even worse, Venezuelans had a real chance of removing an elected President who had grossly violated the Venezuelan Constitution. The date was April 2002, the responsible Pedro Carmona Estanga, who acted on ill-counsel and self appointed himself provisional President of Venezuela. It was a mess, and still we are living this mess on account of such bad counsel. History will in deed find the responsibles of such a mess...

10 years have passed, and still the image of Chavez appears to be engraved on Venezuelans everywhere, specially those in humble settings. Chavez has received in these past 10 years more money to distribute between roughly 24,000,000 Venezuelans....it would take $2,000 for every Venezuelan citizen for 10 years of government, where has the money gone?

Cuba, Bolivia, Nicaragua? Perhaps the pockets of members of the Chavista regime?